Jericho is a period drama mini-series created and written by Steve Thompson and directed by Paul Whittington.[1] The eight-part series premiered on ITV between 7 January and 25 February 2016.

It is set in the fictional town of Jericho, a shanty town in the Yorkshire Dales of England, which springs up around the construction of a railway viaduct in the 1870s. The series re-imagines the story of the building of the Ribblehead Viaduct, which is renamed the Culverdale Viaduct in the show.[2]

In April 2016 ITV confirmed that a second series of the show was not going to be commissioned.[3]

The series is available via streaming video in the USA on Acorn TV, beginning 11 July 2016.[4]

Production

Episodes

Series 1 (2016)

No.

Title

Directed by

Written by

Original air date

UK viewers(millions)

1

"Episode 1"

Paul Whittington

Steve Thompson

7 January 2016 (2016-01-07)

4.74

Annie Quaintain is forced out of her home when her husband dies, leaving her penniless. She seeks work at the shanty town of Jericho together with her two teenage children. Opening a boarding house, she is befriended by Johnny Jackson, her first lodger. When the workings are sabotaged and men are killed, events take a turn for the worse for her son.

2

"Episode 2"

Paul Whittington

Steve Thompson

14 January 2016 (2016-01-14)

4.20

Railway detective Bamford searches for Red Killeen and takes lodgings at Annie Quainton's which unsettles her son. Bamford finds a knife, leading him to suspect Killeen is dead, and discovers Coates may be behind the sabotage. Isabella finds she is unable to invest in the viaduct until she is married and makes an offer to Charles Blackwood. Bamford after meeting Coates reports to Blackwood that Killeen has fled on a ship from Liverpool.

3

"Episode 3"

Robert McKillop

Steve Thompson

21 January 2016 (2016-01-21)

3.86

Isabella and Charles Blackwood marry. Coates takes control of the sale of supplies to prevent hauliers profiteering, making enemies of hauliers who blockade the camp. One of the camp children dies of the strangling angel and Annie's daughter, Martha, falls foul of the same fever. Unable to break the blockade and fetch a doctor, Johnny Jackson takes her to Charles Blackwood's house. Johnny's real identity is exposed causing financial complications for Charles and Isabella.

4

"Episode 4"

Robert McKillop

Steve Thompson

28 January 2016 (2016-01-28)

3.65

Johnny is ostracised by the navvies and Charles refuses his offer that would save the project. Charles approaches a Methodist preacher as an investor. The pious Methodist insists the bar and prostitutes must go. When Annie discovers the preachers son had attacked a prostitute, she herself is threatened with arrest until Johnny intervenes.

5

"Episode 5"

Robert McKillop

Chris Dunlop

4 February 2016 (2016-02-04)

3.73

Charles cannot pay the wages and the men strike. He issues credit notes to be used in Jericho to buy goods and services. Johnny declares they are worthless and some men decide to rob Charle's house. Charles and Isabella are forced to listen to Johnny and mortgage the house and in return Johnny becomes a partner.

6

"Episode 6"

David Moore

Chris Dunlop

11 February 2016 (2016-02-11)

3.83

Charles needs to quarry stone and the only stone available is the burial site of the navvies killed at the workings. When the bodies are moved Red Killeen is discovered buried underneath the coffins. Coates finds evidence, the blanket Killeen is buried in, and is convinced Johnny is responsible. Charles discovers his wife has had an affair with Johnny before they married and a relationship that was thawing freezes again. Johnny, to protect the real culprit, flees Jericho but is brought back by Coates to face justice.

7

"Episode 7"

David Moore

Caroline Henry

18 February 2016 (2016-02-18)

3.70

Johnny is imprisoned by Coates who refuses to send for a magistrate as the navvies are goaded by one of their number to hang Johnny for the murder of Red Killeen. Coates arranges a hearing in the bar that he can manipulate to ensure Johnny's hanging despite knowing who the real killer is. Annie is cross examined and her daughter, Martha, denounces Johnny. Charles and Isabella head to the camp in time to hear the real killer confess.

8

"Episode 8"

David Moore

Steve Thompson

25 February 2016 (2016-02-25)

3.71

Johnny fires Coates. Intending to quarry their own stone a mine is constructed. During an inspection and subsequent cave-ins, Johnny, Charles, and Dagger are trapped. Coates has Davey Sharpe get gunpowder from the store using a key he had. The gunpowder effects a rescue but Charles is badly injured and Isabella needs Johnny's help to run the business. Annie is not happy but refuses Johnny's offer of marriage. Davey Sharpe asks Coates why he had a key to the gunpowder store. Later that evening as Davey walks to his wedding he is shot.